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By Efrain Soriano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspired by the insurmountable civil unrest and traumatic experiences the country faced in 2020, Jorge Mart\u00ednez, pronounced Horh-heh, 16, has been leading the charge in the deconstruction of antiquated systems in his community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mart\u00ednez admits he did not always feel comfortable going by Jorge (Horh-heh), opting to pronounce his name more like \u2018George\u2019 to appease the strong societal pressures he felt in schools and non-Spanish speaking communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Mart\u00ednez\u2019s pride in his culture and identity were far too strong to be subdued as he advocated for himself and his peers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI moved to Cicero from Joliet, I felt I carried over some of the pressures from a majority white suburb,\u201d Mart\u00ednez said. \u201cBut, by moving to Cicero, that flipped. Every weekend we were having parties and carne asadas and I felt more in tune with my culture. I felt so seen, so visible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mart\u00ednez\u2019s persistence and drive was evident early in his pursuit of education. Martinez graduated from Unity Junior High and then applied to several high schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy parents could barely get through their W2s or open a computer, they didn\u2019t know anything but public schools,\u201d Mart\u00ednez said. \u201cBut even after finding the help I needed, I got there and realized I was not on an even playing field. Seeing the price tags of these schools I knew my parents would never make that much in a hundred years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was through these experiences, specifically researching for resources and scholarships, that Mart\u00ednez\u2019s appreciation for the spread of information was fostered. As well as ultimately what led to his interest in journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t gatekeep information. It\u2019s why whenever I find such a cool opportunity, I print a million little flyers and hang them everywhere. I remind my friends \u2018You need to apply\u2019. It never hurts to just help each other out,\u201d Mart\u00ednez said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n FOR OLIVIA, INEQUALITIES HAVE BEEN REVEALED OVER TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Jessica Villagomez<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For Olivia Salazar, 21, her interest in political systems and inequality has grown while being a member of the Berwyn community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salazar, who is a student at Roosevelt University, has been a resident of Berwyn since her early childhood. Over time, she took notice of community issues in Berwyn and Cicero and wanted to learn about the political system<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you start to learn more formally about how these systems are set up and where people get their news, you realize there isn\u2019t a lot of representation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an effort to increase community engagement, Salazar hopes to study the impact of misinformation and become more involved in local news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLocally speaking there is a lot of info spread on social media which we can\u2019t rely on solely,\u201d she said. \u201cCicero Independiente is creating raw news that most people don\u2019t know about,\u201d Salazar referred to newsletters and informational materials published in both Spanish and English as a means for accurate and reliable community news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salazar plans to continue her studies in a policy, journalism and potentially, law related field. In expanding her skills, she hopes to continue conducting interviews and contributing to the \u201cbigger\u201d picture by creating a more sufficient source of information for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FOR EFRAIN, BUYING THEIR FIRST CAMERA WAS MONUMENTAL <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Jorge Mart\u00ednez <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Efrain Soriano always wanted a camera. But their dreams of taking photographs and directing short films were soon grounded by their family\u2019s financial circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeing working class, I never really had the luxury to be able to buy a lot of technology and I fell in love with photography when I was fourteen,\u201d Soriano said. \u201cI dreamed about buying a camera and I was finally able to buy my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soriano bought their first camera by the time they were 21 years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was beautiful, actually, it was like a turning point in my life. I cried a little bit that night when I pushed the \u2018purchase\u2019 button.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photography first began as a hobby for Soriano, but soon became a profession and a craft. Soriano has shot weddings, events and serves as a freelance photographer with Cicero Independiente.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soriano balances a full-time job at a brewery on top of being a student at Concordia University Chicago, yet Soriano insists on keeping their passion for photography alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Soriano hopes to work as a photojournalist in the future, and is determined to take their time, learn all that they can, and take it one step at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI go with the flow and whatever the next day brings me, I just go with it. I\u2019ve never really been one to set super rigid schedules. I feel like that\u2019s what life is, and just go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n FOR JESSICA, IT\u2019S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SPACE FOR OTHER BIPOC JOURNALISTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Olivia Salazar <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jessica Villagomez is a Chicago-based reporter and professor at Northwestern University. Villagomez completed her undergraduate degree at DePaul University in 2017 and continued her graduate education at Northwestern University\u2019s Medill School of Journalism. Villagomez\u2019s guiding influence on journalism gravitates from her interest in writing, general curiosity and being a \u201cfull-time gossip.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her passion for journalism stems from her experience in reporting ranging from covering crime, breaking news, and topics of immigration, education and Latine\/x communities on the Southwest Side of Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Villagomez recognizes there is much work to be done in the media space. She\u2019d like to see an increase in diversity in newsrooms, which means rewriting the narrative for Black, Brown, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities, expanding on their experiences and empowering the new generation to call out injustices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the fellowship coordinator this year for Cicero Independente, Villagomez will bring an impactful influence and unique perspective as a teacher and mentor to the mission of Cicero Independiente. Her passion for journalism strengthens community building and holds elected officials accountable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cicero Independiente\u2019s paid reporting fellowship program is for young people interested in learning more about journalism and reporting on topics that matter to them. You can help us create more opportunities for young people in Cicero and Berwyn by making a donation <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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